A particularly insidious and extremely professionally crafted phishing campaign has been circulating in recent days, specifically targeting administrators of WordPress sites that use WooCommerce to sell online.
If you are reading this article, chances are you have a WordPress site powered by WooCommerce.
You are therefore in the right place.
New scam hits e-commerce on WordPress
Unlike the classic scam emails that we are used to recognizing at a glance, full of grammatical errors, misspelled logos or blatantly suspicious links, this email appears credible in many respects, so much so that it misleads even more experienced users.
Let us tell you how it happened: one of our clients became suspicious and forwarded us an email asking us to confirm about the veracity, here is an excerpt:
We must acknowledge it: the attention to detail and the apparent authenticity of the message are truly amazing.
The goal of the attack? To induce the recipient to voluntarily download and install a maliciousWordPress plugin, with detailed instructions to complete the task.
Let’s look in detail at how this scam works, why it is so effective, and most importantly how to protect yourself or take action if you have already been affected.
What is phishing and how it works
Phishing is one of the most widespread and dangerous techniques in the cybersecurity landscape. It is a form of computer scam that aims to trick the user into performing a harmful action, such as:
- Provide your credentials.
- Downloading an infected file.
- Clicking on a fraudulent link.
- Performing a directly harmful operation.
The term is derived from the word “fishing,” with the substitution of “ph” to invoke hacker jargon. Basically, the attacker “casts the hook,” and hopes the victim will take the bait.
And if it has happened to you, know that you are not the only one: these attacks fool even experienced users every day. But with the right information, you can respond and remedy them effectively.
We talked about it in this article, take a look if you want!
Modern phishing techniques: why they work
Over time, phishing techniques have become more refined. Whereas once a poorly written message was enough to recognize the danger, today we are faced with highly curated campaigns that exploit artificial intelligence, social engineering mechanisms, and psychological pressures.
Here’s why they work so well: it’s a combination of factors that, when properly calibrated, are quite effective at deceiving.
Social engineering and credibility: here’s why this scam is effective
The email in question is written in correct English, with credible and professional technical language. The text refers to an alleged critical vulnerability discovered in WooCommerce and suggests that the user’s site (the domain is explicitly stated) is directly involved.
The message thus urges:
- Download a ZIP file, called a “security patch.”
- Upload it as a WordPress plugin.
- Activate it to “secure” the site.
A simple attack, but brilliant in its execution.
And it is obvious that AI played a key role here; it is materially impossible for a human being to make such precise and personalized emails in a short time.
Why is this email so dangerous? Analysis of the scam
As anticipated, this email is particularly dangerous because, unlike the usual crude scams, it is crafted with great care.
The language is credible, the tone professional, and the graphic appearance very similar to that of official communications. It is precisely this apparent normality that makes it difficult to recognize, even for experienced users.
Specifically we can note:
- Graphic appearance consistent with the actual messages of WooCommerce.
- Compelling technical language, with references to verisimilar vulnerabilities.
- Professional structure, with header, neat paragraphs, clearly visible call-to-action.
- The sender domain is “credible,” unofficial but similar, thus easily ignored on superficial inspection.
Kind of creepy, but fascinating at the same time, isn’t it?
Technical analysis of the WordPress attack
The crux of this attack is that it does not exploit a technical vulnerability of the website, but rather a human vulnerability: the trust of the website administrator or owner.
The plugin downloaded and installed by the victim may contain:
- PHP backdoor for persistent remote access.
- Keylogger or sniffer to intercept passwords and payment data.
- Scripts to send spam or to integrate the site into a botnet.
- Hidden administrative accounts to maintain control even after uninstalling the plugin.
- Modifications to WordPress core files that make malware invisible.
In some cases, these plugins can self-propagate or reinfect the site even after a partial cleanup, necessitating a full manual analysis of the file system.
How to tell if your Woocommerce site has been compromised
If you received this email and followed the instructions, it is likely that your site is already compromised.
Yes, we are sorry but that is exactly what happened. Fear not though, read on for the solution.
Signs that indicate an infected file
If you suspect your site has been compromised, these are some key clues to check right away:
- Presence of recently installed unknown plugins.
- New administrator accounts that you have not created.
- Strange redirects or unauthorized pop-ups.
- Unexplained slowdowns or abnormal errors.
- Reports from users or browsers (Google Safe Browsing, antivirus, etc.).
What to do if you have installed the malicious plugin
In case you have installed a malicious plugin, it is important to act promptly. Follow these steps carefully to secure your site:
- Disconnect the site immediately from the Internet (put it in maintenance mode or block access via .htaccess).
- Remove the infected plugin if identifiable.
- Change all passwords: WordPress admin, FTP, database, hosting panel.
- Check the system files, especially:
- wp-config.php
- .htaccess
- /wp-content/plugins/
- /wp-content/themes/
- Check WordPress users: remove any unrecognized administrators.
- Install a security plugin (Wordfence, iThemes Security, Sucuri) and run a scan.
- Analyzes server logs to look for suspicious access or actions.
- If you are not sure, contact an expert: acting quickly is critical.
Isola can help you, checking your site is free.
Best practices for preventing these attacks
Prevention is the key to avoid falling into similar traps in the future. Although no system is invulnerable, adopting these best practices can dramatically reduce the risk of your WordPress site being compromised:
- Never install plugins from unofficial sources.
- Be wary of emails that contain ZIP files or ask you to install something manually.
- Always verify links: hover your mouse over the button before clicking.
- Check the sender and make sure it uses an official domain (@woocommerce.com).
- Keep WordPress and all plugins up to date.
- Use two-factor authentication (2FA) for admin access.
- Set up automatic daily backups.
- Set correct permissions on files and folders (e.g., 644 for files, 755 for folders).
Need help? Here’s what we can do for you
We know how frustrating (and dangerous) it can be to be in such a situation. That’s why we Isola di Comunicazione offers a professional service of analysis and remediation of compromised WordPress sites, as well as preventive solutions to strengthen the security of your systems.
Here’s what we can do concretely for your site:
- Eliminate the malware completely.
- Restore the full functionality of your site.
- Prevent future infections with an active protection system.
- Receive dedicated counseling, even on an urgent basis.
Contact us today: the first analysis is free and without obligation.
Don’t wait for the problem to get worse: when it comes to safety, time is everything.
Request a free analysis of your compromised WordPress site now
